Governments of Canada and Alberta Announce Funding for Affordable Seniors Housing in Sundre

SUNDRE, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - March 28, 2015) - More seniors in Sundre will have access to affordable housing thanks to an investment of some $8.2 million by the Governments of Canada and Alberta. This joint funding will support the construction of 42 lodge units of a planned 103-unit seniors' facility, which will replace the existing Foothills Retreat Lodge.

Earl Dreeshen, Member of Parliament for Red Deer on behalf of the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development), along with Ron Casey, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Banff-Cochrane, made the funding announcement today.

Quick facts:

The Foothills Retreat Lodge is located at 124 - 1st St. N.W., Sundre, Alberta.

The Governments of Canada and Alberta are jointly contributing $8,232,000 under the Investment in Affordable Housing 2014-2019 Agreement. This agreement represents some $202 million over five years to help more individuals and families in housing need.

The joint funding will support the construction of 42 lodge units. Additional funding, some $2 million, will be provided by Mountain View Seniors' Housing for the units.

The planned seniors' facility will also include 43 supportive living units and 18 life lease units.

Mountain View Seniors' Housing is a non-profit organization committed to enhancing the lives of seniors in this community. It operates housing developments in Sundre, Olds, Didsbury, Carstairs and Cremona for low-to-moderate income seniors.

Quotes:

"Our Government is committed to working with Alberta to develop and implement local solutions to housing. These investments are especially helping seniors in Sundre access safe and affordable housing that meets their needs." - Earl Dreeshen, Member of Parliament for Red Deer

"We know there is a direct connection between having safe, stable housing and a senior's overall well-being. Our commitment is to build quality accommodation options that meet a variety of needs. This investment helps ensure seniors can stay in their communities, close to family, friends and neighbours." - Ron Casey, MLA for Banff-Cochrane

Associated links:

Annually, the Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), invests approximately $2 billion in housing. These investments improve the quality of life for low-income Canadians and households living in existing social housing, including individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, seniors, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and Aboriginal people. Economic Action Plan 2013 continued this commitment with a federal investment of more than $1.25 billion over five years to renew the Investment in Affordable Housing to 2019. The Government of Canada will ensure that funds provided to provinces and territories support the use of apprentices, which will support training of skilled labour.

In the last four years, the Alberta government has dedicated more than $220 million towards seniors' housing across the province. This includes $144.5 million in federal-provincial funding to renew and expand 14 lodges. Renovation projects and replacement units funded by the IAH in 2012-13 include government-owned lodges in Boyle, Camrose, Canmore, Drayton Valley, Forestburg and Milk River.